X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $204
- Cash Discount Price: $371
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.29x Medicare
Average discount available for prompt cash payment at this facility.
Median negotiated contract rate across all mapped commercial carriers.
Standard federal government reimbursement rate for this code.
Visual Cost Comparison vs. Medicare
Understanding this gauge: We use the federal Medicare rate of $88.91 as the cost baseline. Rates below the baseline represent excellent value. In-network commercial rates commonly hover around 150% - 250% of Medicare, while rates exceeding 300% are elevated. Hover over the green and blue markers to view detailed calculations.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 229% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 129%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
Out-of-Pocket Cost Estimator
Estimate whether it is more economical to use your insurance or pay the upfront self-pay cash rate.
Commercial Insurance Negotiated Rates
Negotiated contract ranges established by major commercial carriers at this facility.
| Carrier / Plan Group | Contract Rate Range | vs. Medicare Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $131 | 147% |
| Humana | $185 | 208% |
| Tricare | $185 | 208% |
| Medicare (plans) | $187 | 210% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $204 | 229% |
| Coventry - All Other Plans | $334 | 376% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas - All Plans | $352 | 396% |
| Preferred Healthcare-All Plans | $352 | 396% |
| Wppa/Providers Care-All Plans | $519 | 584% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71045, representing a chest X-ray at Memorial Hospital in Abilene, KS, the cash price is $371.00, which matches the facility's gross charge. This rate is significantly higher than the state average, as indicated by the 2.3x multiplier relative to the Medicare benchmark of $88.91. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more affordable than their insurance negotiated rate of $204.00, particularly if their deductible has not yet been met or if the insurer's allowed amount exceeds the cash price. It is important to note that while the facility lists a median negotiated rate of $204.00 across nine payers, commercial rates often include administrative overhead that can inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40% compared to the true cost of care.
Patients should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities under the No Surprises Act, though unexpected ancillary services like lab tests could still trigger surprise bills if not carefully reviewed. To avoid potential overcharges, consumers are encouraged to request a full itemized billing audit before paying, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or charges for services not rendered. Additionally, patients should explicitly ask for self-pay or prompt-pay discounts prior to scheduling, as paying the bill in full upfront can often reduce the cost by 20% to 50% by bypassing costly claims processing and administrative fees. Always verify your specific plan's deductible status